Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Virus Testing Across Multiple Platforms, Ryan Ignaciuk, Louis Hychko

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Systems Engineering, as a value added re-seller, has noticed a number of organizations questioning the value of anti-virus / anti-malware applications in addition to native operating system protections. So the Maine Cyber Security Cluster (MCSC) at USM teamed up with Systems Engineering in Portland to find out exactly what would happen if a great deal of viruses and malware made it onto your computer that is protected with anti-virus programs they recommend to clients. We used a variety of different operating systems with an assortment of anti-virus programs. These are all either currently in use by Systems Engineering or are …

Impact Of Road Salts (Nacl) On Winter Water Quality In Mill Brook, Westbrook, Maine, Devin Page

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Mill Brook is approximately 5 miles long and is an important migration route for Alewife during the spawning season. Mill Brook stretches from Highland Lake, Westbrook, Maine to the Presumpscot River in Portland, Maine and is surrounded by relatively well-protected forest land. However, chloride concentrations still rise from the upper end of the brook to the end: preliminary data, collected in the winter of 2017, showed an increase in mean chloride concentration from 37.28mg/L +/- 25.61mg/L at the start of Mill Brook to 51.25mg/L +/- 11.63 mg/L at the end of the brook. Chloride concentrations increase in the winter due …

Software Interoperability And The Pods Openhds System, Benjamin S. Heasly Ms

All Student Scholarship

This work addressed challenges of software system interoperability faced by the Open Health and Demographics Surveillance System (OpenHDS). OpenHDS is a distributed application for demographic data collection which was used during a public health intervention in Equatorial Guinea. Specific challenges faced during this intervention included offline data collection and synchronization, changing data collection and software requirements, data size and system performance, and correction of software and data collection errors. This work produced in a new system, the PODS OpenHDS System, which applied four design themes in order to address these challenges: Polymorphism, developer Operations, Declarative style, and Self-description.

Topological Manifolds, Grant Wilson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Topological Manifolds are abstract spaces that locally resemble Euclidean space. For example, consider a round globe and a flat map. The map is a 2-dimensional representation of a 3-dimensional space. Given any point on the globe we can find a corresponding position on the map, and vice versa. This correspondence is called a chart. With a sufficient number of charts, we can describe the whole space. Such a collection of charts is called an Atlas. It is possible to construct different Atlases for the same space, allowing us to move from one chart, to the space, to another chart. This …

An Outdoor Classroom To Improve The Student Experience And Connect The Community, Chelsea Malacara

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

An opportunity to learn outdoors unites students to their surroundings and closes the gap between human and nature. Outdoor spaces contribute to ecological literacy and are critical to a well-rounded education. The University of Southern Maine community places emphasis on environmental stewardship through classroom instruction and campus projects. The Gorham campus has 9 acres of wooded area plus unused greenspace. I am proposing the construction of an outdoor classroom. The proposal will include interviews from various stakeholders, a site assessment, and a digital and 3D model of the outdoor classroom that will be created per the Site Planning and Design …

Remote Sensing Of Beachrock And Other Geomorphological Indicators Of Sea-Level Rise On Lesvos, Greece, Frankie St. Amand

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

While research has shown the possibility of seafloor mapping at depths of up to 30m, a number of factors restrict exploration of bathymetry such as pixel size, sun azimuth, season, water turbidity and suspended sediments, as well as seafloor topography13. Though the 30m composite images of Lesvos were able to penetrate shallow water to expose submerged features, pixel size prevented mapping of beachrock outcrops because they couldn’t be differentiated from other sediments or underwater features. Higher resolution aerial images enabled accurate beachrock mapping. These images were obtained by a helicopter but increasingly, remote drones are a cost effective way of …

Accuracy Of Optical Character Recognition Software Google Tesseract, Joshua A. Suitter

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Tesseract is an open-source OCR (Optical Character Recognition) softwareengine originally developed by HP between 1985 and 1995, it is now sponsored by Google Projects (Google Tesseract). While Tesseract is known as one of the most accurate free OCR enginesavailable today, it has numerous limitations that dramatically affect its performance; its ability to correctly recognize characters in a scan or image. During my research I have found that certain fonts are accepted more than others, and font size, spacing, and image quality all play a role in how Tesseract performs. In this project, I will also be looking into Wolfram’s Mathematica …

An Investigation To Remotely Sense Mineral Leeching Through Soils, Paul C. Shaffer

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Satellite data on Earth's surface provide a wealth of information on landscape conditions. I use Landsat data to determine an important geologic process that influences the composition of the soils. My project focusses on the experimental hypothesis that we can use plant vigor as a proxy to document mineral washing downslopes through soils. I constructed a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) composite image from Landsat data to help assess vegetation heath in my target location - a national park south of Mount St. Helens. This location was selected because of its steep inclines, dense undisturbed vegetation, and fertile soils. It …

The Truman Show: Scalable Generation Of Artificial Network Traffic For Cyber Security Research, Adam Wirth

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Network traffic generation is a key component of the creation of a network simulation environment. In order to create a realistic simulation of a large scale network in action, it is necessary to have a large volume of user traffic. Past methods for providing user traffic, such as hiring users to manually generate traffic, or recording existing traffic of an active network, provide limited control. Managing and directing users is time consuming, and using existing traffic is restricted by recorded conditions. The Truman Show project provides an infinitely adjustable alternative by utilizing agent based modeling of individual users. An agent …

Habitat Fragmenta-On In The Sebago Lake Watershed, Jared Lank

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The goal of this research was to evaluate the extent of land use change occurring in the Sebago lake watershed of southern Maine. The primary data set used was Landsat 7 Near Infrared satellite imagery of the region which was analyzed with ESRI’s ArcGIS soQware. Data was clipped to the Portland Water District’s sub watershed shape file and analyzed with the soQware’s image analysis ‘difference’ tool which calculates the differences in pixel values between to raster datasets. The 2013 Landsat reclassifica-on was compared to 1987, 1995 and 2009 reclassifica-ons. NOAA’s Habitat Priority Planner plugin tool was also u-lized in order …

Inside Out: Properties Of The Klein Bottle, Andrew Pogg, Jennifer Daigle, Deirdra Brown

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

A Klein Bottle is a two-dimensional manifold in mathematics that, despite appearing like an ordinary bottle, is actually completely closed and completely open at the same time. The Klein Bottle, which can be represented in three dimensions with self-intersection, is a four dimensional object with no intersection of material. In this presentation we illustrate some topological properties of the Klein Bottle, use the Möbius Strip to help demonstrate the construction of the Klein Bottle, and use mathematical properties to show that the Klein Bottle intersection that appears in ℝ3 does not exist in ℝ4. Introduction: Topology

Discovering Predictors Of Readmission For Acute Myocardial Infarction In A Medicare Population: A Data Mining Approach, Daniel Macdonald Knowles Ms

All Student Scholarship

Health care costs in the United States have risen at rates far exceeding the cost of living for many years. Previous attempts to control these costs have proven futile. Studies have shown that high per-capita spending in the U.S. does not equate to consistent quality of care or better outcomes.

Issue Brief: Asset Management For Stormwater, New England Environmental Finance Center, Sustainable Communities Learning Network

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

Asset management is a strategic approach to maintaining and sustaining infrastructure in order to meet the needs of the community at the lowest overall life cycle cost. This approach helps communities know how and where to prioritize limited funds in order to achieve the greatest benefit. Often applied to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, this method is well suited to managing any assets, including stormwater systems.

This issue brief is intended to introduce local governments to the asset management process and to show how it can be applied in managing stormwater assets. It was adapted from an appendix written by …

Wind Pattern Effects On The Southern Shetland Islands, Helen Pottle

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The Shetland Islands, northeast of Scotland, experienced an unusually extreme storm that caused unique sand shifting patterns and sand dune formations that resulted in the destruction of the Village of Broo. There is little existing information about the weather and terrain of the Shetland Islands during the extreme storm that was estimated to have occurred between 1650 and 1670. WindNinja, a wind model originally developed for wildland fire application, was used to understand the wind patterns that may have caused the unique sand patterns and resulting destruction. It incorporates existing terrain elevations and vegetation as well as average wind speed …

The Physics Of A Space Elevator, Trevor Hamer

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

A space elevator is a hypothetical device consisting of a long cable attached to the surface of the earth that extends upward into space. Its purpose is to provide a tether on which a vehicle could be lifted up into orbit, greatly reducing the cost of space travel. This project explains the physical forces acting on the elevator along with the kinds of materials required to keep such a cable intact. It also examines different design aspects, as well as potential problems facing the construction and usage of the elevator, and whether or not it is something we should expect …

Identification Of Slums In Mumbai, India: Unsupervised Classification Techniques, Frankie St. Amand

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Slums are contiguous settlements. Inhabitants lack access to safe water, sanitation and sewage infrastructure, secure housing tenure, uncrowded living space, and permanent, durable housing. Addressing these problematic trends begins with identifying contiguous settlements within Mumbai’s urban fabric. Classifications can be performed using satellite images and remote sensing techniques to yield accurate results. Through literature reviews, socio-cultural analysis, and examination of high resolution satellite imagery, this project aims to develop a systematic, accessible, and reproducible method of classifying Mumbai’s slums.

Building Footprint Extraction: A Land Use Classification Comparison Of Satellite Imagery Vs. Orthoimagery, Elisa Trepanier

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The Town of Windham, Maine Proposed Municipal Budget FY 2012-2013 called for $12,750 for professional services to develop a building footprint database. There are several municipal applications for building footprints including, but not limited to: Taxation/valuation of properties; setbacks for code enforcement; public safety planning; historical analysis of building patterns; general planning, where to encourage growth and redevelopment; zoning analysis and recreational planning. Due to the town’s in-house GIS (Geographic Information Systems) capabilities, the project will be developed within the Assessor’s Office and based on the 2012 Maine Office of GIS 6 Orthoimagery for Windham. The following is an effort …

Identifying High Crime Areas Using Spatial Analysis, Elisa Trepanier

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Crime incident locations and trends are examined spatially using GIS to produce maps that pinpoint high crime areas or Hot Spots Crime mapping aids police departments by identifying areas to allocate limited resources where and when they are most needed. This project introduces the availability of GIS technology to smaller police departments as a tool to assist in the development of crime prevention strategies. In this model crime incident reports for Windham, Maine are geocoded and patterns of motor vehicle and structure burglaries analyzed for date, time and location of incident. An addressing protocol is followed to protect victim privacy …

Obesity Rates In Maine Exceed New England's Obesity Rate: A Look At Possible Contributing Factors, Susan Walker

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore adult obesity data to: Compare Maine’s rates with other New England states and explore differences in Maine counties by looking at known risk factors.

Effects Of Digital Elevation Model Resolution On Estimates Of Flood Damage In Westbrook, Maine, Scott Webber

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Accurate predictions of flood damage and economic losses are increasingly important as historically low-probability floods have become more common. Digital elevation models (DEMs) are essential to flood modeling as they define stream channel and floodplain morphology, the accuracy of which influence estimates of flood damage. The city of Westbrook, Maine experiences episodic flooding of the Presumpscot River; therefore, flooding in Westbrook was simulated with HAZUS, a model created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The model is designed to assess the costs associated with hazard scenarios including riverine flooding. HAZUS was run for a 100-year return period flood with both …

Stream Crossing Barrier Prioritization Methods For Increasing Eastern Brook Trout Habitat In The Little Androscoggin River Watershed, Michele Windsor

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Eastern Brook Trout (Salvelinas fontanalis) are an important cold water fishery in the state of Maine. While populations in Maine are relatively abundant there has been decline in some parts of its range due in part to loss of habitat connectivity. Brook trout require access to specific types of stream habitat for spawning, feeding, and seasonal thermal refuges. Stream crossing structures such as undersized, poorly installed, or blocked culverts, as well as small remnant dams, can create barriers to accessing important stream habitat for brook trout. A recent Fish Barrier/Culvert Survey in the Little Androscoggin River Watershed provided data about …

Natural Gas Service Expansion Criteria In Maine, Kevin Mahaffey

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the framework used by Maine’s natural gas utilities in making decisions to expand natural gas infrastructure and service to new customers,and then to apply this knowledge in an attempt to identify municipalities that are potentially attractive candidates for service expansion within Maine.

This study is not a precise model for gas utilities, but is meant rather to be a reconnaissance study for finding viable and attractive candidates for service.This study was limited both by resources and the inaccessibility of proprietary information.

High Peaks Back - Country Trails Plan, Benjamin Godsoe

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The High Peaks Trails Plan is a regional vision for back-country trails in Maine's High Peaks region. The plan identifies challenges and opportunities which face the trails community, and outlines several strategies for trails groups to move forward together to overcome mutual challenges.

The Cost Of Green Infrastructure: Worth The Investment?, Martha Sheils

Green Infrastructure

Is GI worth the investment?

• LID techniques often lead to cost savings when we look at WHOLE PROJECT COSTS

• Natural Infrastructure investments for flood control, drinking water protection and wildlife habitat can yield SIGNIFICANT AVOIDED COSTS and additional co-benefits to communitites

Issue Brief: Auditing Your Town's Development Code For Barriers To Sustainable Water Management, New England Environmental Finance Center

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

This issue brief is intended for town officials who want to understand how development regulations in their community affect local water resources. Municipal development codes – the set of regulations that control the built environment – can have a great influence on the availability of clean and healthy water for drinking, recreation, and commercial uses. This in turn affects the community’s social, environmental, and economic vitality.

Comprehensive plans, zoning codes, and building standards are just a few examples of regulations that intentionally or unintentionally regulate the way water is transported, collected and absorbed. Regulations that produce dispersed development or large …

Issue Brief: Saving By Mitigating, University Of Louisville, New England Environmental Finance Center

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

Natural disasters can cause loss of life, inflict damage to buildings and infrastructure, and have devastating consequences for a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. Hazard mitigation means reducing damages from disasters.

Local governments have the responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens. Proactive mitigation policies and actions help reduce risk and create safer, more disaster-resilient communities. Mitigation is an investment in your community’s future safety, equity, and sustainability.

Geotechnics And Regionalism: The Lineage Of Thought From John Wesley Powell To Benton Mackaye, Nikkilee Cataldo

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

John Wesley Powell and Benton MacKaye, each developed exceptionally comprehensive and innovative regional planning visions that had a great deal in common. They both were Jeffersonian idealists, who considered those who tilled the soil and worked the land for primary production a class of men above all the rest.

This paper will explore some of the fundamental theory behind the work of both Powell and MacKaye, as well as examples of the plans that they developed. It will become clear that the two men were working from very similar theoretical vantage points, though in relatively different socio-political eras. It will …

The Role Of The Creative Economy In Sustainability Planning And Development, Marla Stelk

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

This paper reviews Creative Economy theory and practice and attempts to intersect the author’s findings with Sustainability Planning and Development theory and practice. An extensive literature review, including over 40 publications (articles, reports, white papers, conference proceedings and books) as well as interviews, personal observations and website reviews was used to develop this paper and the author’s conclusions. Current Creative Economy and Sustainability theories are explained and analyzed as well as the role of the artist, the entrepreneur, the city and cultural organizations. The author provides recommendations for the City of Portland, Maine and concludes that the qualitative benefits of …

3-D Modeling Of Coastal Aquifers, Seth Mullendore

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The purpose of this project is to assess the accuracy of a simplified computer modeling approach to coastal fresh/salt water interface groundwater flow. A number of test cases will be run to compare the results of the sophisticated USGS computer program SEAWAT with those of the program AnAqSim (analytic aquifer simulator), written by Dr. Charles Fitts. In order to reduce input complexity and model processing time, AnAqSim uses several simplifying assumptions. The analysis will lead to guidance regarding the range of conditions where the simplified approach is applicable, and the nature of the errors that may be introduced.

Leadership Development For Pro-Environmental Behavior Utilizing Peer To Peer Communication And Learning: An Academic Pilot Project, Mark Wayne Carrera Ma

All Student Scholarship

There is a cultural perception that the onus of responsibility for shark conservation falls on the shoulders of environmental and scientific communities’ leaders. Given the diminutive size of these two communities when compared to the vastness of American society, responsibilities should be shared by leaders of educational organizations who can communicate with greater populations. The general public must be encouraged to act pro-environmentally for effective shark conservation to ever take place in the world.